Machine for finishing tubular stereotype printing plates



Oct. 27, 1959 l.. s. TYMA, JR.. ETAL 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES 16 Sheets-Sheetl Filed June 20. 1957 INVENTORS Lows S.TYMA',JR. JOHN MGVOZDJAK @W4/Z 5-m//q/J//W Oct. 27, 1959 L. s. TYMA, JR., ETAL 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 20.1957 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Lows TYMA, JR. JOHN M. GvozDJAK @12%,gm, wwf/@ ATTYs,

Oct. 27, 1959 L. s.1-YMA,JR.`, ErAL 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYEE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 20,1957 lthetQ-Sheet 3 Louls S. TYMAJR, JOHN M.GvozoJA Oct. 27, 1959 L. s.TYMA, JR.. TAL 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES P-rled June=21T, ISS? 16 semme; 4

INVENTORS Lows 5. TYMA,JR. JoHN MGVOZDJAK Oct. 27, 1,959 l.. s. TYMA,JR., ETAL 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 20,1957 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNvENToP Louis 8- TYMA, JR. l l JOHN M.GvozoJA| bs @mf/p/QMM/ ma Oct. 27, 1959 L. s. TYMA, JR., ETAL v 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 20,1957 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 INvEN-rons Lows S; TYMAJR. Joramr M. GvozDMK by:M27/ gm J f Mfm Oct. .27, 1959 l.. s. TYMA, JR., ETAL 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINIsHING IUBNLAR sTEREoIYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 2o,1957 1e sheets-sheet 'z I INvl-:N-roes Lows 5. TYMA,JR. I JOHN M.GvozoJAL. s. TYMA, JR., ETAL 2,909,829

Oct. 27, 1959 MACHINE FOR FINISHING IUBULAR sTEREoIyPE PRINTING PLATESFiled June 2o, 1957 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 PLAT:

INvENw-oes Lows S.TYMA JR Jol-IN M. GvozoJAK Oct. 27, 1959 L. s. TYMA,JR.. :TAL 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR SIEREOIYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 20,1957 lrSheetS-Sheet 9 PLATE INvEN-roks STYMA JR. JOHN M. GvozDJAu QCL27, 1959 Lfs. TYMA, JR., Erm. 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINIsHING TUBULAR sIEREoIYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 2o,1957 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 TT YS.

INVENTORS Lows 5. TYMA,JR. Jon-N M. QvozoJAx Oct. 27, 1959 L. s. TYMA,JR., ETA'. 2,909,829

l v MACHINE FOR F INISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June20, 1957 1e sheets-sheet i\1 F. .I5 Il?.

NVENTGRS Lows S. TYMA JR.

JoHN M. GvozDJAK Mv @we @fm/Ma AT1-YS.

PLATE I Oct. 2 7, 1959 I l.. s. TYMA, JR., ET AL 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 20,1957 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 rI/w VL* IN VEN-roes Lows 5. TYMA ,JIL

JOHN M. GvozDJAK by: mi@ @gw/MKM@ A'r-rYs.

Oct. Z7, 1959 L. s. TYMA, JR., ETAL 2,909,829

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 20,1957 16 Sheets-Sheet 13 F Lg. i 32 Louas S. TYMAJR.

(54 JoHN M. GvozoJAx Z1 ATrvs,

16 Sheets-Sheet 14 Qli L.s. TYMA, JR., ETAL MACHINE FOR FINIsHINGTUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES I L .Z2

@Q/@Q@Q@@Q@ INVENTOR Lows S. TYMA, JQ. JOHN M. GvozDJAK @f (f7/ gm/MQW/M@ Oct. 27, 1959 Fied June 20, 1957 2,909,829 MACHINE FOR FINISHINGTUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Qct. 27, 1959 L. s. TYMA, JR., :TAL

Filed June 20, 1957 O O O O O 0 C O G O 0 K Lows 5. TYMA,JR

JoHN M. GvozDJAK by M@ KM -1"rvs.

MACHINE FOR FINISHING TUBULAR STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES Filed June 20,1957 Oct. 27, 1959 l.. s. TYMA, JR., ETAL 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 INvEN-ronsLouis S.TYMA,JR. Jos-m N. GvoZBJAK QM f@ lA-if@ United States PatentMACHINE FOR FINISHIN G TUBULAR STEREO- TYPE PRINTING PLATES lApplication June 20, 1957, Serial No. 666,976

20 Claims. (Cl. 29-21) 'Ihe present invention relates in general to amachine for finishing tubular stereotype printing plates.

Stereotype plates of the tubular type wherein a single plate encompassesalmost the entire cylinder leaving only a gap or slot between thestraight ends or edges, are ordinarily finished by rst cutting theunfinished tubular plate to the proper length and beveling the cut-olfend of the plate, then machining the inner cylindrical surface thereofto a specified diameter. Heretofore it has been vcustomary to providelock-up means in this inner surface adjacent to the straight edges ofthe plate. The plates are engaged and locked up securely on the platecylinders vby lock-up mechanism carried by the plate cylinder, which iseiective in cooperation with the lock-up means on the plate to applycircumferential tension to stretch the plate and draw it tight aroundthe cylinder. One lock-up method which has been in widespread use,employs grooves in the inner surface of the tubular plate and lock-upmechanism on the plate cylinder which is engaged in these grooves forlocking up the plate. A plate cylinder equipped with lock-up mechanismwhich operates in this manner is disclosed in Foster Patent No.2,047,364, dated July 14, 1935, for example. This invention relatesparticularly to nishing tubular plates adapted to be locked up onprinting cylinders constructed as illustrated in the aforesaid Fosterpatent.

`It is a general object of this invention to provide a method and meansfor finishing tubular stereotype printing plates to a high degree ofmachining accuracy at a reasonable production rate.

In order to maintain high quality standards which entails maintainingmachining accuracy in the finishing operations, means are provided forpositioning the plate precisely and holding it securely in the finishingmachine during the nishing operations. Moreover, dueto the tubular formof the plate, apparatus of a special character is provided which iscapable of carrying out the finishing operations involving cutting metalfrom the inside of the tubular platemember while it is held in themachine. Y

. In more detail', it is an object of this invention to provide meansfor supporting the tubular stereo plate in the plate finishing machinewhile the nishing operations are carried out. These finishing operationsinvolve boring the inner surface of the tubular plate to a specifieddiameter and broaching plate lock-up grooves in the finished innersurface of the plate adjacent the straight edges thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to support a tubularstereotype printing plate in the finishing machine for rotation aboutthe longitudinal axis ofthe plate so that the inner surface thereof maybe bored to a specified diameter expediently and with precision.'Another object is to provide a rotatable sleeve for supporting the plateon the machine frame, and clamping apparatus carried by the sleeve forsecuring the plate inside the sleeve wherein the clamping apparatus isself-actuated. A further object is to provide for operating the clampingapparatus for clamping and unclamping a plate, by means plane of lines14-14 of Fig-f3;

rifice mounted on the machine frame, this clamping .apparatus beingoperable when the sleeve is held against rotation in apredeterminedangular position. 'l

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and means foriinishing tubular stereotype printing plates wherein plate lock-upgrooves are machined adjacent the straight ends or edges of the plate.With this form of plate, cylinder lock-up mechanism like that shown inthe aforementioned Foster patent engages the plate by means of thegroves, the jaws of the mechanism pressing against the side walls of thegrooves to place the plate under tension and pressing 'it closely to thecylinder throughout its area.

It-is another object to provide for machining theplate lock-up grooveswith a broaching tool which is power driven. Another object is to lockthe rotatable sleeve against rotation for supporting the plate rigidlyso that the broaching operation may be carried out expediently.

Another object is to incorporate inthe finishing machine an indexingassembly effective for the dual purpose of locking the sleeve againstrotation and preventing endwise movement of the plate, especiallyimportant during the broaching operation due to the heavy` yforcesapplied by the broaching tool against the plate duringv this operation.

Another object is to provide a plate stop and plate ejecting apparatuswhich is effective for locating the plate axially in the sleeve so thatit may be cut olf to the proper length, and which is effective forpartially ejecting the plate from the sleeve when the plate is unloadedfrom the machine following the completion of the finishingv operations.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofv a stereotype plate finishingmachine constructed in accordance with the present invention; A

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure l; t

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation taken substantiallyin the plane of lines 4-4 of Figure l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary Viewpartly in section takensubstantially in the plane of lines 5-5 of Fig. 4; l

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional 4view taken substantially in the planeof lines 6 6 of Figure l and illustrates the plate clamp apparatusengaged to clamp a plate within the sleeve;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the lplateclamp apparatus disengaged;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinalsectional i view takensubstantially in the Fig.l3; Y v

Fig. 9 is a view of a finished tubular stereotype printing plate; f

Fig. 10 is a view in end elevation of embodied in the machine of Figurel;

Figs. l1, l2 and 13 are detail views in elevation of the sleeve indexingand plate stop mechanism embodied iu the machine of Figure l;

Fig. 14'is a sectional view ta'ken through the power driven boring andbroaching apparatus and sleeve of the finishing machine of Figure 1substantially in theV offset plane of linesHS-Sl of the cut-off tool pFigs. l5 and 16 are sectional views taken similarly to Fig. 14 with theplate stop and plate ejecting mechanism in different operatingpositions; i

. Figs. 17-21 are diagrammatic sequence views illustratthe power drivenboring and broaching apparatus k.; carrying out the operations involvedin finishing a tubular plate; l VFigs. 22-25 are enlarged detail viewsof the individual plate clamps embodied in the plate clamp apparatus;

Figs. 26-29 are enlarged detail views illustrating the guide bar,cutting heads, and driving mechanism therefor', and

Figs. 30, 3l are views illustrating the chain drive for the cuttinglinks.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, a preferred embodiment has been shown in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to thespecific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention isto coverall modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention `as expressed in theappended claims.

' General machine organization By way of preliminary to a detaileddiscussion of the machine illustrated in the drawings, a briefdescription of the machine, its purpose, and its functions is hereprovided. This machine provides means for preparing a tubular stereotypeprinting plate for use on a printing press by machining the innersurface of the plate to a specified diameter and cutting lock-up groovesin the inner surface of the plate adjacent the straight edges. Afinished plate which has been prepared in this manner is shown in Fig.9. Accordingly, referring to Figure l of the drawings, an unfinishedplate may be loaded in the machine by sliding the plate inside arotatable annular sleeve 20 where it may be clamped, so that the sleevesupports the plate on vthe machine frame 2l for rotation about thelongitudinal axis of the plate.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for locating theplate properly in the sleeve prior to clamping, this same means alsoserving as a plate ejecting mechanism for ejecting the plate from `thesleeve after the plate has been finished. Herein a movable plate stop 22(Fig. l5) is provided for locating the plate in a predetermined axialposition. This movable stop 22 also serves as a plate ejecting mechanismfor ejecting the plate from the sleeve after the plate has been'finished (Fig. 16) and for this purpose is slidable within the sleevefor engaging and shifting the plate.

For clamping the plate securely within the rotatable sleeve so that theappropriate finishing operations can be carried out on the plate,further in `accordance with the invention, plate clamps 23 mounted inthe sleeve are provided for engaging the edges of the plate and applyingclamping pressure for expanding the plate into uniform contact with theinside of the sleeve, these plate clamps 23 being self-actuated bysprings contained as part of the plate clamp assembly within the sleeve.Moreover, in keeping with the intention, to operate the plate clampapparatus, the machine is provided with lock-up mechanism 24 which ismounted on the machine frame and is controllable by the machine operatorfor clamping and unclamping the plate. With the plate located properlyin the sleeve and clamped securely, the sleeve 20 is rotated by a powerdrive 2,5 so -as to enable the finishing of the plate.

Before the finishing operations are carried out, the plate is firsttrimmed to length. This is customarily a cut-off operation which may beperformed by an appropriate cut-off tool 26.

With the plate thus prepared the finishing operation wherein the innersurface of the plate is bored to a specified diameter may be carried outon the machine. This boring operation may be performed by an appropriateboring tool, such as by a power driven apparatus 27 which is constructedas part of the machine. Reference is made to the copending application,Serial No. 667 ,005, filed lune 20, 1957, of Corson Walter Chase andLouis S. Tyma, Ir. entitled Power Driven Broaching and Boring Apparatusfor Plate Finishing Machines for a complete description of thisapparatus. In general, this power driven apparatus 27 incorporates aboring head 2S (Figs. 2 and 27) which is slidably mounted on ways on acutter guide bar 29. The guide bar 29 is fixedly mounted above the mainpart of the machine frame so as to extend through the annular sleeve,thus positioning the boring head 2S for engaging the inner surface ofthe plate. In order to bore the plate the boring head is moved axiallyof the plate as it rotates.

Then, further in accordance with the invention, it is proposed toperform an additional finishing operation wherein lock-up means aremachined in the inner surface .of the tubular plate in the form ofgrooves 30 extending the full length of the plate adjacent the straightedges 3l. in the finishing machine of the present invention, the groovesSil are broached by a broaching head 3 2 also supported by the guide bar29, and which comprises an element of the power driven apparatus 27.This element is also described in detail in the copending applicationjust referred to. This broaching head 32 is forced axially of the platewhile the plate is held rigidly .on `the machine frame within the sleeve2.0, which is held against rotation during this broaching operation.

sleeve against rotation and for holding the o rigidly against endwisemovement during the bro operation, when the forces applied to the platetendi g Lo shift it are very great, in accordance with the invention thesleeve is indexed to a predetermined angular position and the plate isheld in that 1 "on and against axial movement by means of an ini ssembly 3S mounted on the frame.

Upon more specific reference to thc drawings, it wili be unders d fromthe foregoing that the invention is shown as embodied in an illustrativetubular stcrotype printing plate finishing machine, shown in Figure l.`As illustrate more particularly inFigures l-3, the machine is made witha bed 2i or. frame the main part 4l of which is protectively covered. Gnthis part of the machine there is supported the rotatable annular sleeve2@ which is employed for holding the tubular plate during the finishingoperations. The sleeve, it the present instance, is supported forrotation by a braf: is bolted to the frame so that the legs 33, d4 ofthe brocxe extend vertically above the main part of tl e frame. Thebracket legs 43, 44 are bored kto receive alined bushings which holdtheV annular sleeve 26 for rotation.

Supported lengthwise of the bed or frame and located substantially overthe center of the machine so as to extend throngh the annularsleevev 2t?is the power driven apparatus ZT for boring and broaching the innersurface of a tubul r plate held within the sleeve 20. As may be seen inF res l a 3, thebed orY frame 2l of the machine is ras-ed whi n providesmeans for supporting a transverse bracket 49 at the loading end 59 ofthe machine mounting one end of the guide oar 29;

So that the tubular plate can be slid over the bracket 49 and into thesleeve Z@ during the loading operation, the neck 5l of the bracket ismade slightly narrower than the slot in the plate, as shown in Fig. 3.On this guide bar 29 the boring head ZS and thebroaching head areslidably mounted in way surfaces 52, 53 which are machined in thelateral faces of the guide bar. A chain drive 54 is provided for movingthe heads in the desired manner for carrying out. the machiningoperations. At the left-hand ond of the machine as viewed in Figures iand 2, the guide bar 29 is supported directly on the machine frame 2i.At this same end of the machine a drive sprocket 5o which is mounted inan adjustable bracket 53, is provided to supply means for moving thechain and powering the cutting heads. By adjusting this bracket 5S thedrive sprocket may be shifted to obtain proper tension in the chain Thechain is also trained around an idler sprocket 5? vwhich Vis ,jonrnalledon a shaft 6i) mounted in the cutter bar -29 a short distance from thebracket 49 supporting the guide bar atthe loading end of the machine.' Adrive motor .M-1 mounted on the main frame 41 of the machine is employedto drive the drive sprocket 56. .I g

In carrying outl the invention, for turning the plate for boring, thesleeve which supports the plate is driven by a power drive 25. For thispurpose the sleeve is provided around its. outer periphery with adjacentsprocket teeth forming a sprocket 61.; A source of power for driving the.sleeve'isfmounted within the protectively covered main part 41of themachine frame 21 and in the presentfinstance comprises a motor M-2, adrive shaft .63, and a drive sprocket 64 on the drive shaft 63 vwhich iscoupled to theannular Vsleeve byv a chain 65 trained around the twosprockets.' A brake .66 for locking the drive shaft against turning maybe provided, although other mechanical expedients may be used if sodesired.

The function of the brake 66 is to prevent the sleeve 20 from turning,and appropriatefcontrols are provided on.

fixed jaw are wider than the jaw extensions and allow* relative movementbetween the jaws.' To limit the ex- I vpansion of the springs 87 andthus the outward movement of the movable jaws 86B, D, a' series ofmachine screws 92 are provided which are threaded into the bottom of thebored holes in the movable jaws passing through chamfered' holes 93 inthe ybars 89, 90, respectively. When the sets of jaws are compressedtogether and forced into nested relation soas to unclamp the tubularplate, as shown in Fig. 7, the machine screws 92 may push out behind'therectangular bars into the cavity 94 formed by the lateral portion of theslot. Since the sleeve 'must' be rotated during certain of the machiningoperations, the clamping mechanism is contained in the sleeve assemblyso that it rotates with the'sleeve. Ac-

cordingly, the coil springs 87 are effective .to maintain l the jaws ofthe clamping apparatus in engagement with the machine for releasing andapplying the brake 66 at the option of the machine operator.

Plate clamp apparatus outer faces, respectively, of thelegs 43, 44 ofthe bracket,

42 on which thesleeve 20 is rotatably supported. -On the end of thesleeve facing `the loading end 50 of the machine, a hand wheel 80 ismounted so that it may be graspedby the machine operatory and turned forindexing the sleeve 20 to place it in a predetermined angular positionfor the broaching operation and so that the sleeve is appropriatelypositioned for operation of the plate clamps. In the present instance,two sets ofplate clamps are provided for engaging the plate andexpanding it tightly against the inside diameter of the sleeve 20. Forreceiving the sets of 'plate clamps, a T slot 83 is machined in thesleeve 20 so that the slot opens .to the inside of the sleeve. A spacerblock A85 which slides in the T slot divides the slot lengthwise intoseparate compartments which receive .the sets of plate clamps. The plateclampsgare formed as sub-assemblies which comprise iixed jaws 86A, Candjaws 186B, D which are slidably mounted on the fixed jaws. Eachsub-assembly is mounta plate within the sleeve, for expanding thetubular plate into uniform contact with the inside of the sleeve.

In accordance with the present invention, an operating mechanism 24mounted on the machine frame is provided for actuating the plate clampapparatus housed in the sleeve. For this purpose a lock-up lever 95mounted on the frame is movable into engagement with a series of bellcrank levers 96A-D which are mounted on the sleeve 20. Under thisarrangement the outer surface of the sleeve has four spaced openings97A-D through which the bell crank levers 96A-D project to extendoutwardly ofthe sleeve. In the present instance, the bell crank levers96A-D are pivoted-to blocks 98A-D which are bolted to the sleevwithinthe spaced openingsv97Al-D ed in the sleeve by sliding it in the T slotuntil positioned against' the spacer block 85, and end plates serve tohold the sub-assemblies in place within the sleeve. the sleeve the plateclamp jaws are urged in plate clamping direction by spring forceobtained from a series of coil springs l07 contained in bored holes A88inthe movable jaws and seated against rectangular bars `89, 90 which arepart of the sub-assembly. These flat, rectangular bars 89, 90 (Figs; 5,7) seat on ashoulder of the T slot, thus acting as abase for thesprings. Under the present arrangement the xed jaws 86A, C of each setof lclamps are arranged within the T slot so that the plate engagingvportion extends inwardly of the inside surface of the annular sleeve 20.The movable jaws 86B, D lie side by side and nest with the fixed jaws86A, C, respectively, with the fixed jaws towards one side and themovable jaws towards the other side of the sleeve 20. Each movable jawincludes 'a pair ofshorter jaw extensions 91 which extend throughopenings 91' in the fixed jaw to project inwardly of the sleeve. Theopenings 91 in the fixed jaw appear clearlyin the elevational Fig. 23and 'the two shorter jaw extensions 91 of the `movable jaw are visiblein Fig. 25. These openings 91 in the within. i

provided in the sleeve for receiving these levers. Each bell crank, asshown in Figs. 6, 7 is generallytriangular in shape and has rollers 99,101 at the corners. The inner roller 99 is positioned for engagementwith the movable jaw, and the outer roller 101 is located outwardly ofthe sleeve for engagement by thelock-up, lever mechanism 24 mounted onthe machine frame. Asshown in Fig. 8, the lockfup lever extendssubstantially the length of the sleeve 20 and is pivoted on the shafts105 having four spacedwear plates 106A-D for engagement with :the spacedbell'cranks. Referringto Fig. 6, the

coil springs 87`are in an expanded condition and the f in the sleeve andthe extent which the bell crank levers l project outwardly of the sleeveis such that as the sleeve turns the projecting bell crank levers passwithout contacting any portion of the machine frame 21 or the bracketstructure 42 for supporting the sleeve. Moreover, the lock-up lever 95biased by a spring 108 away from the 'sleeve and out of engagement withthe bell crank levers 96A-,D mounted on the sleeve.,

VFor actuating the lock-up lever, a cam 109 and cani follower 110arrangement may be utilized. In the present instance thecarn 109 issupported on a vertical control shaft 111.and engages a roller 110,which functions as a cam follower, mounted on the lever 95. TheverticalV control shaft 111 is journalled in a bracket 112 bolted to themachine frame, and the control shaft is turned by a control handle 113which lies over the top of the machine and is fastened to the shaft by ayoke 114 which permits the handle to be raised and lowered assit isturned. The configuration of the cam is illustrated in Fig. 14j Theclamping apparatus contained in the sleeve may b e operated to clamp andunclamp a plate by turning the controlshaft 111,

Plate stop and plete ejector Further in accordance with the invention,the mechanism for operating the plate clamp apparatus is effective bothfor that purpose and for the purpose of operating the plate stop andplate ejector 22. Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 6 and lll-16, thecontrol shaft 111 which carries the cam 109 for operating the plateclamps, also carries a gear segment 121) which is effective to operatethe plate stop and plate ejector 22. For locating the tubular platewithin the sleeve 2G, the plate stop 22 is positioned adjacent the endof the sleeve 2li so as `to be engaged by the end of the tubular plateas it is inserted in the sleeve. The plate is thus located in apredetermined axial position relative to the sleeve. An arm 121 supportsthe plate stop 22, the arm in turn being supported by a rack shaft 122which is carried so as to move lengthwise of the machine in horizontalopenings 123 which are machined in the sleeve mounting bracket 42. Asthe control handle 113 and gear segment 121.) are rotated, the gearsegment by engaging the rack teeth 124 shifts the shaft which in turnshifts the plate stop 22. In the prescribed and normally followedsequence of operations, for loading a plate on the machine the operatinghandle 113 is placed in a loading position L (Figs. 14, l5) wherein: (l)the plate stop 22 is positioned to stop the plate, and (2) the plateclamps 23 are compressed so as to present clearance for the slot in theplate (Fig. 7). This loading position of the control handle is anintermediate position determined by the pin 125 (Fig. 3) fastened on theunder side of the handle in relation to the stop 126 formed on thebracket 112. The loading operation is carried out by sliding a tubularplate past the end bracket 49 supporting the guide bar 29 and over therest 127 on the end of the guide bar. After the tubular plate has beenloaded in the sleeve 20, the handle 113 is moved to the operatingposition O of Fig. 15 by raising the handle so that the pin 125 clearsthe stop 126, and moving it clockwise. This movement of the controlhandle simultaneously effects release of the lockup lever and,consequently, operation of the plate clamps 23 to clamp the plate, andshifts the plate stop 22 away from the end of the plate so as to insureagainst contact while the plate is turning. The plate is then ready forthe finishing operations.

After the plate has been machined and is to be unloaded from themachine, the control handle 113 is moved to an unloading position U(Fig. l5, 16). For partially ejecting the tubular plate from the sleeve2Q, the plate stop 22 is guided past the plate locating position ofFigs. 14 and 15 into the inside of the sleeve. The stop 22 thusfunctions as a plate ejector forcing the plate from the sleeve so thatit projects from the sleeve a sufficient distance to be removedmanually. The stop 22 is guided in its movement by a slide plate 128mounted on the upper surface of the guide bar (Figs. 1, 6).

Sleeve indexing After the boring operation has been completed, inkeeping with the invention, the sleeve 26 may be rotated by hand andindexed to a given angular position so that the plate may be breached.For this purpose, the loading end of the sleeve 2i) is provided with ahand wheel Si) which may be gripped by the machine operator and turnedto rotate the plate. For locking the plate in position for breaching, anindexing assembly indicated generally at 35, is provided. This assemblyalso provides means for holding the plate against endwise movement asthe breaching head is forced through the plate.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 1113, at the loading end of the machine andsupported on the bed 21 there is provided a mounting frame 135 for theindexing assembly. in general this mounting frame comprises spacedplates 137, 13S which extend horizontally from the back of the machineforward to a position adjacent the end of the rotatable sleeve 20. Theseplates are joined by a common web 139 at the back of the machine. Thelower plate 137 is bolted Vto the bed 21 of the machine frame and theupper plate 13S is held by means of the web 139. Support for theindexing assembly 35 is provided by a vertical shaft 141) which seats inalined bores in the plates. The shaft extends through the plate stop141, the main element of the assembly. This plate stop is pivotableabout the axis of the shaft 140 between a position as shown in Fig. 11where it blocks longitudinal movement of the sleeve during the broachingoperation, and an out-of-the-way position as shown in Fig. 13. The outeredge of the plate stop 141 is curved and slotted, and the breachingcutters pass through the slots 145 at the end of the broaching stroke.In addition to the plate stop 141, the assembly 35 includes a wedgeplate 146 which is slidably mounted on the stop so as to beposiitionable behind camming edges 148 on the upper and lower mountingplates. The wedge plate is actuable by a control handle 150 to forcesolidly against the end of a tubular plate in the sleeve 20 to hold theplate against endwise movement. For this purpose the wedge plate 146 islocated between the plate stop 141 and the locking handle 151B andslides on the stop. The sliding movement is `guided in a straight lineby a pin 157 xed in the stop 141 which fits into a groove 15S in thewedge plate. Upon rotating the actuating handle counter-cloclcwise asshown in Fig. 12, the wedge plate is caused to slide to the chain lineposition where it clears the ends of the bracket plates outwardly beyondthe camming edges 148. The sliding movement is caused by a pin 159 movedby the actuating Vhandle which rides in a second slot 160 in the wedgeplate. The outer position ofthe wedge plate is shown in Fig. 12. Uponclockwise movement of the actuating handle the wedge plate is moved toits inner position as shown in the same figure to cam the plate stop 141against the tubular plate within the sleeve and hold it in thatposition.

In addition to holding the plate against endwise movement, the indexingassembly provides means for locking the sleeve 20 and thus the plateagainst rotation. In the position of the assembly shown in Fig. 11 anindex pin 161 is inserted in an index pin socket 162 in the sleeve. 162is formed in an adjustable socket member 163 which is mounted in arecess 164 in the wheel. It may be adjusted by an adjusting screw 165which may be xed in position by a set screw 166 accessible to theoutside of the wheel. With 'this arrangement the sleeve may be set andheld precisely for breaching.

Power driven apparati/.s for boring and branching For finishing theinner surface of a plate clamped within the sleeve 2? there isincorporated in the machine a power driven boring and broachingapparatus 27 which is supported on the machine frame 21 for engagementwith the inner surface of the plate. This is described completely in thecopending application, Serial No. 667,005, filed June 2G, 1957, ofCorson Walter Chase and Louis S. Tyrna, lr. entitled Power DrivenBroaching and Boring Apparatus for Plate Finishing Machines. A briefdescription of the operation of the apparatus is included at this pointto complete the description of the present invention.

A boring head 215 and a breaching head 32 are slidably mounted forlongitudinal movement along the guide bar 29 so as to present cuttersfor engagement with the inner surface of the plate. For mounting theboring and breaching heads the lateral faces of the guide bar 29 aremachined with longitudinal channels or ways 52, 53 which extendsubstantially the full length of the guide bar. These way surfaces onopposite sides of the guide bar thus extend parallel to the innersurface of a plate clamped within the sleeve and are provided so thatthe boring head may be slidably mounted for Referring also to Fig. 4,this index pin socket

